Foldable U-shaped profile, its manufacturing process and installation for embodiment of the process

Abstract

A packing member formed as a U-shaped channel comprises a base ( 1 a ) and two side legs ( 1 b , 1 c ). The base is provided with a longitudinal folding line ( 2 ′) near its median line. The folding line divides the bases into two parts which are pivotable about the folding line. When the two parts are pivoted away from each other with the legs flared outward, the U-channel structure will be transformed into a substantially W-shaped structure to facilitate stacking for storage and/or shipping of the packing member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A packaging member, comprising a base member having upper and lower surfaces, and a pair of longitudinal side members extending upwardly from and substantially perpendicularly to the upper surface of the base member; 
       the base member including a longitudinally extending folding line formed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces, the folding line dividing the base member into two portions each bearing one of the side members and pivotable about the folding line;  
       said packaging member being disposed in a substantially U-shaped configuration when the two portions of the base member are flush with each other; and  
       said packaging member being disposed in a substantially W-shaped configuration when the two portions of the base member are pivoted about the folding line with the respective side members moving away from each other, thereby facilitating stacking of a plurality of said packaging members disposed in the W-shaped configuration.  
     
     
       2. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein the folding line extending substantially centrally of the base member. 
     
     
       3. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein the base member of one said packaging member disposed in the U-shaped configuration cannot inserted into a space defined by the base and side members of another said packaging member also disposed in the U-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       4. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein said packaging member is integrally formed by folding opposite longitudinal side edges of the base member upwardly to form the side members. 
     
     
       5. The packaging member of  claim 4 , wherein said packaging member is made of one of cardboard including adhesively pasted strips and composite cardboard-polyolefins. 
     
     
       6. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein the folding line includes an indentation pressed into said at least one of the upper and lower surfaces without affecting the integrity of the base member. 
     
     
       7. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein the folding line includes a groove formed by partially removing a thickness of the base member. 
     
     
       8. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein the folding line includes a slit partially cut into a thickness of the base member. 
     
     
       9. The packaging member of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing tape disposed on the base member in a region of the folding line to additionally join the two portions of the base member, thereby reinforcing the region of the folding line. 
     
     
       10. The packaging member of  claim 9 , wherein the folding line includes a slit partially cut from said at least one of the upper and lower surfaces into a thickness of the base member, and the reinforcing tape is disposed with a pleat on said at least one of the upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
       11. The packaging member of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing tape covers substantially an entire area of said packaging member except for said at least one of the upper and lower surfaces on which the folding line is formed. 
     
     
       12. The packaging member of  claim 1 , wherein the folding line completely separates the two portions of the base member, said packaging member further comprising a reinforcing tape disposed on the base member in a region of the folding line to join the two separate portions of the base member together. 
     
     
       13. The packaging member of  claim 12 , further comprising a joint made of at least one of glue, latex and silicone filled in a gap between the two separate portions of the base member to additionally join the two separate portions. 
     
     
       14. The packaging member of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing tape is disposed on the lower surface of the base member. 
     
     
       15. A packaging member, comprising a base member having upper and lower surfaces, and a pair of longitudinal side members extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base member; 
       the base member including a longitudinally extending folding line formed on one of the upper and lower surfaces without affecting the other, the folding line dividing the base member into two portions each bearing one of the side members and pivotable about the folding line;  
       said packaging member being disposed in a substantially U-shaped configuration when the two portions of the base member are flush with each other; and  
       said packaging member being disposed in a substantially W-shaped configuration when the two portions of the base member are pivoted about the folding line with the respective side members moving away from each other, thereby facilitating stacking of a plurality of said packaging members disposed in the W-shaped configuration.  
     
     
       16. The packaging member of  claim 15 , wherein the folding line includes one of a groove and a slit extending from said one of the upper and lower surfaces toward the other and formed by partially removing material of a thickness of the base member and partially incising into the base member without removing material thereof, respectively. 
     
     
       17. The packaging member of  claim 16 , wherein the folding line is formed on the upper surface. 
     
     
       18. The packaging member of  claim 16 , wherein the folding line is formed on the lower surface. 
     
     
       19. The packaging member of  claim 16 , further comprising a reinforcing tape disposed on the base member in a region of the folding line to additionally join the two portions of the base member, thereby reinforcing the region of the folding line. 
     
     
       20. The packaging member of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforcing tape is attached to the base member without affecting the integrity thereof. 
     
     
       21. The packaging member of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforcing tape is disposed on said one of the upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
       22. The packaging member of  claim 19 , wherein the folding line is formed on the other of the upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
       23. The packaging member of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforcing tape covers substantially an entire area of said packaging member except for said one of the upper and lower surfaces on which the folding line is formed. 
     
     
       24. The packaging member of  claim 23 , wherein the folding line is formed on the upper surface and the reinforcing tape does not cover regions of side surfaces of the side members which are immediately adjacent to the upper surface. 
     
     
       25. The packaging member of  claim 16 , wherein the folding line includes the slit, said packaging member further comprising a reinforcing tape disposed with a pleat on said one of the upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
       26. The packaging member of  claim 25 , wherein the folding line is formed on the upper surface. 
     
     
       27. A packaging member, comprising a base member having upper and lower surfaces, and a pair of longitudinal side members extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base member; 
       the base member including a longitudinally extending folding line formed on both of the upper and lower surfaces, the folding line dividing the base member into two portions each bearing one of the side members and pivotable about the folding line;  
       said packaging member being disposed in a substantially U-shaped configuration when the two portions of the base member are flush with each other; and  
       said packaging member being disposed in a substantially W-shaped configuration when the two portions of the base member are pivoted about the folding line with the respective side members moving away from each other, thereby facilitating stacking of a plurality of said packaging members disposed in the W-shaped configuration.  
     
     
       28. The packaging member of  claim 27 , wherein the folding line includes an indentation pressed into the base member, the indentation having a convex shape on one of the upper and lower surfaces and a corresponding concave shape on the other the upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
       29. The packaging member of  claim 28 , wherein the base member has a substantially uniform thickness in regions of the folding line and the two portions. 
     
     
       30. The packaging member of  claim 27 , wherein the folding line completely separates the two portions of the base member, said packaging member further comprising a reinforcing tape disposed on the base member in a region of the folding line to join the two separate portions of the base member together. 
     
     
       31. The packaging member of  claim 30 , further comprising a joint made of at least one of glue, latex and silicone filled in a gap between the two separate portions of the base member to additionally join the two separate portions. 
     
     
       32. The packaging member of  claim 30 , wherein the reinforcing tape is disposed on the lower surface of the base member.